Affecting Annuals

Pear-shaped, soft bodied insects; can we winged or wingless. Most commonly green but can be black, dark brown, yellow, white, bronze, red or pink.

Damage:

Suck sap while feeding on leaves, stems or roots. Can be found on growing tips, undersides of leaves, along stems and in roots.

Signs

Reduction in plant vigour; wilting and distortion of plant tissue - curled, puckered or distorted growth. Excrete honeydew, a sticky fluid that can lead to sooty mold development and also attracts ants, wasps and other flies. In some cases can cause red blistering on leaves.

Nymphs are pale green insects found in spittle mass, adults are small tan-brown insects that resemble leafhoppers.

Damage:

Suck sap from leaves, shoots and stems. Spittlebugs produce a spittle mass which is the combination of leaf juices, air and mucus; the spittle mass is to protect the insect from predators and from drying out.

Signs

Will see a spittle mass on stems on plants. Looks like someone spit on the plant. Nuisance, can be sprayed off with water.